cool yourself down with this icebreaker

Tom Ward and Coca Cola team up for White Valentines

China is not only the world’s most populated country, but its also a tough place to find a suitable partner, so tough that they’ve created ‘Marriage Markets’ where parents gather to try and find a match for their children.  

White Valentines comes exactly a month after Valentines Day. It’s a day where roles are reversed and women can approach men to make the first move. So last White Valentine’s Day, Leo Burnett came up with the concept of Coca Cola being the ultimate ‘Ice Breaker’, creating a moment that people can share together.

The idea: plant a vending machine full of ice cold Coca Cola’s with tightened caps in the most romantic park in central Shanghai. The outcome: girls buying the bottles of Coke would need to enlist the help of a male passerby to open the bottle.

This accidental approach is quietly crafted by Coke and creates a meet cute for couples that may never have met otherwise – the ultimate aim being one of love.

Watch the spot directed by Tom Ward for Great Guns here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuCdbn9u3v8

Agency: Leo Burnett Shanghai/Hong Kong

Executive Creative Director: Julian Hernandez

Creatives: Joaquin Lynch, Federico Munichor

Agency Producer: Grace Fong

Director/DOP/Editor: Tom Ward

Exec Producer/Producer: Janene Fitzgerald & Nick Dodet

Post: Digital District Shanghai

gunners fizz

this weekend is set to be a scorcher in London - perfect weather to get together with friends, kick back, relax and try out the Gunners Fizz*. 

You will need:

- the juice of 3 limes 

- 600ml of ginger beer

- 600ml of ginger ale 

- Angostura bitters 

- loads of ice 

- a big jug 

- lime wedges to garnish 

Totally refreshing and a brilliant BBQ drink. 

Do it in true Gunners style and find yourself a roof terrace like ours at Great Guns HQ in Camden. 

Enjoy the sunshine! 

*Gunners Fizz thanks to Waitrose Magazine 

bronze statues and beer

It’s been a busy and exciting few months for Great Guns director Jonty Toosey. As you probably already know he went to Cannes and came back with a Bronze Lion in the Mobile category for his work on Nike’s cross-platform challenge #WinAgainstTheElements. The campaign with AKQA China bridged real life running and social networking by connecting NIKE+ with Weibo, a Chinese microblogging site. 

Watch the case film here:

http://www.canneslions.com/work/2013/mobile/entry.cfm?entryid=4932&award=4

Earlier in the year he teamed up with his Canadian production company Partners and Molson Canadian to bring back the longstanding tagline “I am Canadian” by traveling round Europe with a big red fridge. 

The spot features a fully stocked fridge full of Molson Canadian beer turning up in a number of European cities including the UK, France and Belgium. The catch being that the fridge can only be unlocked by scanning a Canadian passport. Toosey brilliantly captures the feelings of nostalgia and camaraderie when Canadian travelers manage to open the fridge to discover a piece of home far from home.

Molson launched the 90-second spot on Facebook on June 21^st as well as screening a 30-second version of the ad during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Watch Molson Canadian “The Beer Fridge" here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gper3YkzMg

Watch the Making of The Beer Fridge here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukbwE-dobRQ

a recipe from la maison bouffe

It's been 2 weeks since the end of Cannes Lions and if you're anything like the Gunners at Great Guns HQ you'll be craving food from La Maison Bouffe. 

Thankfully head chef Maria Elia has stepped in and given up one of her secret recipes from the week. 

Marinated Lamb, Feta Curd, Smashed Peas & Artichokes

(please scroll down for the recipe) 

Serves 4

400g trimmed lamb fillet

Pinch dried oregano

Drizzle of olive oil

4 tbsp clear honey

For the Peas and Artichokes

150g fresh peas (podded weight)*

1 large garlic clove

3 tbsp each of chopped mint and dill

5 tbsp olive oil/artichoke oil

100g feta crumbled (which is half of a 200g pkt)

Little freshly grated lemon zest

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 small jar of cooked and marinated artichoke hearts in Olive oil

Handful of pea shoots to garnish

Feta curd

100g feta cheese, crumbled

1 tbsp lemon juice

Pinch of dried mint

4 tbsp artichoke oil

To make the curd, place the feta, lemon juice, mint and oil in a blender and blitz until smooth season with black pepper, refrigerate until required.

Pre heat a griddle pan,

Rub lamb with a little oil, sea salt, pepper and oregano.

Sear lamb over medium heat for four to five minutes on either side, (or cooked to your liking) remove from griddle, drizzle with honey and leave to rest in a warm place.

In batches lightly crush the peas followed by the garlic in a pestle and mortar and transfer to bowl, add the mint and dill, crumbled feta, lemon zest, juice and artichoke oil. Season to taste.

Cut 6 artichokes into ¼’s lengthways and set aside.

Smear feta curd over plates, spoon over peas, slice lamb and divide evenly between plates, top with artichoke quarters and sprinkle with pea shoots, serve drizzled with extra virgin olive or infused lemon oil.

*If the peas are quite large, blanch for a minute in boiling salted water, refresh in ice cold water, drain and then crush.

This dish is absolutely stunning and a great one to whip up for your own little Maison Bouffe evening. 

You can find this recipe and loads more in Maria's new book 'Smashing Plates' 

Maria is also featured chef of the month in Waitrose Kitchen magazine, where you can find loads more of her recipes.  

We hope you enjoy the recipe, leave us a comment if you try it out! 

@greatgunstv

a great guns cannes

Great Guns director Ilya Naishuller was a finalist at the Saatchi & Saatchi New Director Showcase, Stuart Gillies was shortlisted for the SHOTS Young Director Award and Jonty Toosey with animation by ARTBOX won a Bronze Lion for his Nike/AKQA work ‘Win Against The Elements’.

Jonty Toosey after his Bronze Lion win

Janene, Kate & Laura 

Janene, Andy Morahan & Kate

We had a fantastic Cannes... Here's to 2014!